The "soul" is not only an SPD reality, it exists in the UK too. My city is twinned to a coal miners town in England and over the last 40 years we have established many friendships between the people of our cities. Mind you these contacts did not remain at the official level of delegations. On the contrary it led to friendships between coal miners, fire fighters, public administration workers, nurses, social workers, school kids etc.pp. I still remember the UK labour party members coming reguarlary to Germany. They would even venture for such 'jobs' as engaging in house to house canvassing, handing out leaflets etc. And we had social events too. Great stuff and very emotional, very heart felt moments  especially for the old comrades who had fought in the war when they found out that we share the same songs. Another touching 'soul' moment was the time when our English comrades defied the Thatcher policies during the long coal miners strike. We organised a several months long weekly shuttle service of food and clothes transports to our twin city and helped the coal miners union comrades to nourish the coal miners families in need. I also know of marriages which came out of the twinning. Our communion with the English labour party comrades was made on these bases, not on a ficticious 'free market' ideology.

Btw: I was given by our UK comrades a live long member ship card for the Association of English Working Men Clubs, which is fantastic since a pint of beer costs 10 pence less there.

"The USA appears destined by fate to plague America with misery in the name of liberty." Simon Bolivar, Caracas, 1819